Apparatus for the production of vapor from oils.



N0. 669,987. YPatntud Mar. I9, l90l.`

A.; HAYES.

APPARATUS FORTHEPRUDUCIIUH 0F V'APDR- FBUIUILS.

(Appliclt'on lcd Get. 27. 1900.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

figg.

10 lm mmV/ M;

} J v. 9 /VVENTOR: AP-I//T/VESS/LS.- Y grt ,65,

4 @6 By a l Y I 9 41mg' Patented Mar; I9; |90L A. HAYES. APPARATUS `FORTHE PRUDUCTION 0F VAPOR FROM ILS.

(Applicationld Oct. 27. 1900.\

2 Sheeis--Sheet 2.

lll

n v T Rs ,moro-L yivTTnn STATES PATENT Trice.

ALBERT HAYES, OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS,TO THE NEW LIGHT HEAT dt POWER CO., OE UTAH.

APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF VAPO-R FROM OILS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 669,987, dated March19, 1901.

Application filed October 27, 1900. Serial No. 34,531. (No model.)

To t/Z whom it may concern: my improvements. Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5 are Beit known that I, ALBERT HAYES, a citihorizontal sectional views on thelines d d., zen ofthe United States, residing at Salt Lake b l), c c,and d d of Fig. l, respectively. Fig. Oity,in the county of SaltLake,State ofUtah, 6 is a perspective view of the double cham- 55 haveinvented certain new and useful Imber, in which the vapor is mixed withair. provements in Apparatus for the Production Fig. '7 is a detail viewof the oil-chamber of Vapor from Oils, of which the followingis valvesand the means for operating them. a description, reference being had tothe ac- Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional View correcompanying drawingsand to the figures of spending to Fig. l, but showing a moditica- 6o Ioreference marked thereon.` y tion. Fig. 9 is a perspective viewcorrespond- My invention relates to improvements in ing to Eig. 6,showing,r a modified form; and vaporizingandburning hydrocarbonoils,parFig. 10 is a horizontal sectional view correticularly the heavier orless volatile oils, such sponding to Fig. 3,showing the modified form.as kerosene, for the production of heat, for In the drawings, lisachamber for cont-aini5 lighting, or other purposes. Devices for thising the oil to be vaporized. As shown, this general purpose comprisegenerally an oilchamber comprises an upper and lower por supply, meansfor vaporizing the oil, means tion united by a screw-joint. The chamberfor mixing the vapor with air to form a oommay be of any desired form,it being essenbustible mixture having the general qualities tial onlythat the chamber be of sufficient ca- 7o 2o of a gas, and a burner inwhich this gaseous pacity to contain the necessary amount of oil.mixture is burned. Where such devices are The upper end of the chamberis preferably used for lighting purposes, a mantle ofresomewhatreducedindiameterandis provided fractorymaterial,ofthe typegenerallyknown with a removable nozzle or plug 2, having asa TVelsbachmantle, is placed above the through it an outlet-opening;` 3, of smalldi- 25 burner and is heated byit to incandescence. ameter. Theoutlet-opening is made conical lVhen such devices are used for heatingpurtoward its lower end to form a valve-seat Li, poses generally, theobject t-o be heated is in which fits the needle-valve 5. In thebotplaced above the burner. tom of the oil-chamber is an inlet-opening6,

In devices of this class the oil is vaporized controlled by a valve 7.This inlet-opening 8o 3o in a closed tube, to the exterior of which theis preferably at the center of the bottom, diheat necessary to causevaporization is aprectly in line with the opening 3. The neeplied, andthe vapor formed passes into the (ile-valve 5 is carried by a valve-stem8, and mixing-chamber without at any time coming the valve 7 is carriedbyavalve-stem 9. The in contact with flame. The outlet for the valvesare operated tocontrol the outlet-open- 35 vapor is necessarily made ofvery small diingttand the inlet-opening 6, respectively, by ameter, andby reason of the changes in tema key l0, extending through the wall ofthe perature to which it is subjected much dffichamber l and having onits shaft, within culty is found in preventing the clogging of thechamber, means for eecting sim ultanethis outlet by the deposit of thetarry matously the movement of the two valve-stems. 9o 4o ters carriedby the oil. In the drawings I have shown the shaft of the My improvementis designed to do away key provided with opposit-ely-placed eccenwiththis liability of clogging the vaporizer trios ll and l2, thevalve-stems S and 9 beby doing away with the vaporizer and effectingprovided with yokes 13 and 14:, respecing the vaporiZat-on of the oil bythe direct tively, in which the eccentrics are received, 45 action of aliame upon the oil fed from the the form of the yokes being such thatthe oil-supply; and my invention consists in the movement imparted tothe valve-stems will means, hereinafter described, by which the bedirectly toward and from the valve-seats vaporization is thus effectedand the vapor only. By turning the key in one direction mixed with airand supplied to the vapboth valves will be withdrawn from their loo 5oorizing-liame, as well as to the main burner. seats, and by turning thekey in the opposite Figure l is a longitudinal sectional View of idirection both valves will be forced to their respective seats. Itshould be understood that any means for simultaneously operating the twovalve-stems other than the means shown may be used, it being essentialonly that the inlet and the outlet valves be so regulated that as anincreased amount of oil is permitted to escape acorrespondingly-increased amount of oil is permitted to enter thechamber. A stuffing-box 10' is provided to prevent leakage abouttheshaft of the key.

'Surrounding the upper end of the oil-chamber and extending, preferably,slightly above the level of the top of the oil-chamber, but below thetop of the nozzle, is a tube 15. Between this tube and the outer wall ofthe oilchamber are formed air-inlet passages 16. These are preferablyformed by a metal piece 17, of the form shown in cross-section in Fig.5, having the arms 1S and fitting snugly in the space between the tubeand the oil-chamber, the air-passages being formed between the arms.This metal piece extends, preferably, from the lower end of the tube 15to a point slightly below the top of the oilchamber. Above the inet-alpiece 17 is placed a ring 19, of perforated metal, fitting between thetube 15 and the oil-chamber. The size of the air-inlet passages is soproportioned that the supply of air is somewhat restricted, and thelength of the passages is such that the air will enter with some force.The perforated ring 19 serves to distribute the air entering throughtheair-passages equally on all sides of the center and probably acts alsoto further restrict the supply of air.

Above the tube l5 is placed a double chamber comprising an outer tube 20and an inner tube 2l, which may be termed a mixing-tube. The outer tube20 is preferably of somewhat smaller diameter than the tube 15 and is.connected to it by an ordinary slipjoint or other joint. The inner ormixing tube 21 is supported within the outer tube 2O by a flat ring ordiaphragm 22 at its base. An air-inlet tube 23 extends through the wallsof the inner and outer tubes to supply air to the interior of themixing-tube. This air-inlet tube is arranged a short distance above thebase of the mixing-tube. The upper portion 2la of the mixing-tube ispreferably of smaller diameter than its lower portion; but the tube maybe of the same size throughout its length. The upper end of this tube ispreferably made slightly flaring; but this is not essential. Two or moreair-inlet tubes may be used, if desired; but I prefer to use one only.

The space between the inner and outer tubes forms an annulardowntake-passage 24, the ring or diaphragm 22 being provided with aseries of perforations communicating with this passage.- I prefer toform this downtake-passage by a series of tubes 24:', placed in thespace between the outer tube 2O and the mixing-tube, with their endsextending through the perforations in the ring or diaphragm 22, as shownin Figs. 1, 3, and 6; but

these tubes may be dispensed with, the space between the outer tube andmixing-tu be forming the downtake-passage, as shown in Figs. 8, 9, and10. The purpose of the downtakepassage is to convey gas formed in themixing-tube from above the upper end of the mixing-tube into the spacebelow its base, delivering it in a ring about the baseof themixing-tube, so that when ignited the gas issuing through theperforations in the ring or diaphragm 22 or from the lower ends of thetubes, above described, will form a ring of dame which, as hereinafterdescribed, is caused to take a substantially conical form. Anyconvenient arrangement by which this canbe done may be employed, and myinvention is not limited to the speci tic arrangement for this purposedescribed and shown.

Above 'the upper end of the inner tube 2l is an obstruction 25, which,as shown, is a diaphragmV ot' perforated metal within and supported bythe outer tube 20. 'lhe purpose of this obstruction is to interposesufficient resistance to the free passage of the gas from themixing-chamber to cause a portion of it to enter the downtake-passageand pass downward therethrough to support the flame. Any means otherthan the perforated diaphragm shown which will effect this purpose maybe used.

Above the obstruction 25 in the construction shown is placed aperforated metal diaphragm, which forms the top of the burner. The mainportion of the gas formed in the mixing-chamber passes through thisdiaphragm and is burned above it. The mantle 26 is supported above theburner by the usual means and is heated to incandescence by the flame.

Surrounding the upper portion of the oilchamber at a point below thelower end of the outer tube 15 is a cup 27 for containing alcohol orother liquid for use in starting the action of the device. Any othermeans-such, for instance, as a removable torch-by which the parts may beheated sufficiently to prevent condensation of the vapor when formed andto furnish a vaporizing-ame to start the operation of the device may beemployed in place of this alcohol-cup.

Oil is supplied to the inlet of the oil-chamber from a pressure-tank 28,which may be of any convenient form.

The operation of the device is as follows: The oil-chamber being filledwith oil, the cup 27 is lled with alcohol and ignited, or if a removabletorch is used it is lighted and placed in position.' The dame from theburning alcohol will pass upward about the exterior of the tube 15 andthe outer tube of the double chamber through the passages between thetube 15 and the upper portion of the oil-chamber and into themixing-tube. parts are sufficiently heated so that the vapor coming incontact with them will not be condensed the needle-valve is opened,permitting oil to escape through it in a fine stream or spray. By themovement of the key in open- As soon as the c IOS IIO

pass downward through the downtake-pas-v sage between the mixing-tubeand the outer tube 2O and passing through the perforations in the ringor diaphragm 22 will be ignited below it. A ringof flame willthus beformed,

and as the outer tube 15 prevents the dame from finding an exit otherthan through the mixing-tube it will tend to draw into the mixing-tubeabout the outlet-nozzle of the oilchamber. The outer tube l5 preventsaccess of air to the flame from the side and air can enter only in anupward current through the air-passages 16. This upward current of airdistributed by the perforated diaphragm 19 on all sides of the centerwill aid in forcing the llame into the mixing-tube and the flame will becaused to assume substantially the form of a hollow cone within themixing-tube about the outlet-nozzle, with the apex of the cone directlyabove the outlet. The air entering through the air-inlet 23 above theliame and acting upon the upper surface of the flame probably aids tosome extent in causing it to assume the conical form. The oil is forcedfrom the needle-valve directly into and through the apex of the cone offlame and in its passage therethrough it is vaporized but the vapor thusformed is not consumed in this flame. Air entering through the air-inlet23 is mixed with the vapor/thus formed within the mixing-tube. From themixing-tube the largelporrion of the gas passes upward to the burner,aportion of it sufficient to maintain the cone of' flame being deflecteddownward, as above described, through the downtakepassages to maintainthe vaporizing-iiame, as above described. As soon as the vaporization isstarted the means used for the preliminary heating maybe dispensed with.The oil will continue to be vaporized and the gas formed as long as thesupply of oil is maintained.

The brilliance of the light may be regulated by red uciug or increasingthe discharge of oil from lthe needle-valve, the vaporizing-iiame beingmaintained constant at all times, so far as its vaporizingelfect isconcerned, Whatever variation there may be in the supply of oil, so longas the supply is not completely shut off.

By the improvements thus described the vaporizing tube or retortheretofore used in vapor-burners is dispensed with. The Vaporizationbeing effected in a cone of flame in a mixing-tube of comparativelylarge diameter, there is nothing to be clogged by the deposit of tarryor other matter from the oil.

lfrom the vaporizers heretofore used.

The vaporization being effected after the oil leaves the needle-valve,the oil-chamber is not subjected to direct flame and is not heatedsufficiently to vaporize the oil contained in it. rlhe oil is dischargedpractically cold 1h rough the needle-valve and will therefore have notendency to clog the valve. The vaporiza tion being effected at thecenter of the cone of dame is effected at a Nery high heat and is forthis reason more complete than eau be effected in a closed retort, withthc result that the gas produced isof better quality and when burnedproduces a higher degree of heat than can be secured with an equalquantity of gas By the use of my improvements the heavier hydrocarbonoils, such as kerosene, are vaporized and burned as readily as thelighter oils, such as gasolene or naphtha, are vaporized and burned indevices heretofore employed and with materially better results.

While my improvements have been herein described as particularly adaptedfor use for lighting purposes, it will be understood that they areequally adapted for heating purposes generally.

The gas produced in the mixing-tube of my device may, if desired, beused in an explosive-engine or for any purpose for which a gaseouscompound of vapor and air, such as is there formed, may be adapted.

The method of vaporizing hydrocarbon oils by direct contact with iiamewhich is effected bythe apparatus herein described and shown is notclaimed in this application, but is made the subject of a separateapplication for pat eut, filed November 5, 1900, Serial No. 35,566.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

l. In an apparatus for vaporizing hyd rocarbon oils, the combinationwith a mixing-tube, of means for forcing a fine stream or spray of oilinto the mixing-tu be, and means for maintaining a vaporiZing-ilamewithin the mixingtube about the stream or spray of oil.

2. In au apparatus for vaporizing hydrocarbon oils, the combination witha mixing-tube, of means for forcing a line stream or spray of oil intothe mixing-tu be, means for maintaining a vaporizing-ame within themixing-tube about the stream or spray of oil, and means for supplyingair above the flame to mix with the vapor generated from the stream orspray to form a gas.

3. ln an apparatus for vaporiziug hyd rocarbon oils, the combinationwith means for feeding a fine stream or spray of oil under pressure, ofmeans for maintztining a vaporizingllame in the pal h of the stream orspray, means for supplying an upward current of air to the flame frombelow and means for supplying air above the flame to mix with the vaporgenerated from the stream or spray of oil.

4E. In an apparatus for vaporizing hydrocarbon oils, the combinationwith means for feeding a line stream or spray of oil under pres- IIOsure, of means for maintaining a vaporizing- Hanne within an inclosingchamberin th'e path of the stream or spray, means for supplying anupward current of air to the flame from below and means for supplyingair above the dame to mix with the vapor generated from the stream orspray of oil.

5. In an apparatus for vaporizing hyd rocarbon oils, the combinationwith an oilchamber having an outlet, of a mixing-tube arranged in linewith said outlet, and into which said outlet extends, means formaintaining a VaporiZing-ame within the lower end of the mixing-tubeabout the outlet and means for admitting air to the mixing-tube abovethe llame.

6. In an apparat us for vaporizing hydrocarbon oils, the combinationwith a chamber containing oil under pressure, provided with an outlet,of a mixing-tube above the chamber to receive the oil from said outlet,means for maintaining a flame about the base of the mixing-tube andmeans for admitting air to the iiame from below to force itinto themixing-tube to vaporize the oil discharged from the outlet.

7. In an apparatus for vaporizing hyd rocarbon oils, the combinationwith a chamber containing oil under pressure, provided with an outlet,of a mixing-tube above the chamber to receive the oil from said outlet,means for maintaining a flame about the base of the mixing-tube, meansfor admitting air to the flame from below to force it into themixingtube to vaporize the oil discharged from the outlet and means foradmitting air into the mixing-tube above the flame.

8. In an apparatus for vaporizing hydrocarbon oils, the combination withan oil-chamber having an outlet, of a mixing-tube arranged in line withsaid outlet, means for admitting air to the interior of the mixing-tube,an outer tube surrounding the mixing-tube, a downtake-passage betweenthe two tubes for deliver-ing gas into the space below the lower end ofthe mixing-tube to maintain the flame therein and means for admittingair into the space below the lower end of the mixing-tube to force theflame into the mixing-tube about the outlet.

9. In an apparatus for vaporizinghydrocarbo'n oils, the combination withan oil-chamber having a valve-controlled outlet, of a mixing-tubearranged in line with said outlet, means for admitting air to theinterior of the mixing-tube, an outer tube surrounding the mixing-tubeand extending above and below its ends, a downtake-passage between thetwo tubes for delivering gas into the space below the lower end of themixing-tube to maintain a flame therein, means for causing an upwardcurrent of' air into the space below the lower end of the mixing-tube toforce the ame into the mixing-tube about the outlet and an obstructionto the free passage of gas above the mixing-tube.

10. In an apparatus for vaporizing hydrocarbon oils, the combinationwith an oil-chamber having a valve-controlled outlet at its upper end, amixing-tube above and in line with said outlet, means for admitting airto the interior of the mixing-tube, an exterior passage leading from theupper end of the mixingtube into the space below its lower end fordelivering gas into such space to maintain a flame therein, means fordiverting a portion of the gas from the mixing-tube into said passageand means for admitting an upward current of air into the space belowthe lower end of the mixing-tube to force the flame into the mixing-tubeabout the out-let.

l1. In an apparatus forlvaporizing hydrocarbon oils, the combinationwith an oil-chamber having a valve-controlled outlet at its upper end,of an outer tube surrounding the upper end of the oil-chamber, amixing-tube above the oil-chamber inline with its outlet, means formaintaining a llame about the base of the mixing-tube, means foradmitting air in an upward direction about the oil-chamber to cause theflame to assume a conical form within the end'of the mixing-tube andmeans for admitting air into the mixing-tube above the flame. v

l2. In an apparatus for vaporizing hydrocarbon oils, the combinationwith an oil-chamber having an outlet at its upper end, of an outertubesurrounding the upper end of the oilchamber, a double chamber arrangedabove the oil-chamber and comprising an inner or mixing tube and anouter tube, the two tubes being spaced apart and having a perforatedring between them at the base of the mixing-tube, means for admit-tingair in an upward direction between the oil-chamber and the outer tubesurrounding it, and means for admitting air to the mixing-tube at apoint above its base.

13. In an apparatus for vaporizing hydrocarbon oils, the combinationwith an oilschamber having an outlet at its upper end, of an outertubesurrounding the upper end of the oilchamber, a double chamberarranged above the oil-chamber and comprising an inner or mixing tubeand an outer tube, the two tubes being spaced apart and having aperforated ring between them at the base of the mixing-tube, means foradmitting air in an upward direction about the oil-chamber, means foradmitting air to the mixing-tube at a point above its base, a perforateddiaphragm above the upper end of the mixingtube within the outlet-tubesurrounding it, a burner above the mixing-tube and a mantle supported inposition To be heated by the burner.

In testimony whereof I afx my signature in presence of two witnesses,

ALBERT HAYES.

Witnesses:

Jos. H. BLAcxwooD, A. P. GREELEY.

IOO

IIO

